Code Pink Journals CodePINK Journals

Work 4 Peace,Hold All Life Sacred,Eliminate Violence! I am on my mobile version of the door-to-door, going town-to-town holding readings/gatherings/discussions of my book "But What Can I Do?" This is my often neglected blog mostly about my travels since 9/11 as I engage in dialogue and actions. It is steaming with my opinions, insights, analyses toward that end of holding all life sacred, dismantling the empire and eliminating violence while creating the society we want ALL to thrive in

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Sioux City Peace-In have times changed!!!!- to be continued

Well, we've been outnumbered by police before, but this is the first time I've been out-numbered by the press!!! Now THAT'S a change to be lauded! Three TV stations and 2 print guys showed up!!! And me...

Des Moines and an appointment!

The largest group yet comes out in Des Moines, about a dozen activists! And two TV stations along with a reporter.

Everyone, including the cameramen, are allowed into the Senator’s office! We are pleased to be so pleasantly welcomed and the press actually allowed to take pictures as well!

Four staff members, including 2 interns, fill the room with the 10 or so of us who wanted to come up and speak with staff.

We are given the same handouts and the same reasons for Harkin’s vote.

One of the staff is confused about why we are still talking about a vote that is in the past: she wants to focus on the future – and so do we.

We request a meeting with Senator Harkin as soon as possible. We are told how very busy he is, but he is definitely wanting to meet with us, maybe sometime in September.

We let staff know that September is NOT okay. Everyone is busy; everyone has things to do; and it is never a good or convenient time to end war but it has to be done this month.

We reiterate war is the number one issue on EVERYONE’S mind and plate. And we expect it to also be for Senator Harkin.

We point out that if the Senator would have voted against spending $3-4000 per second on war, we would not have to worry about finding money for anything else – it would be there.

Judee agrees to be our contact spokesperson and staff promises to let her know by Friday when we can have an appointment with Harkin.

Everyone agrees to return to the Federal Building on Monday, August 6th 4:30p.m. to wait until Harkin agrees to meet, should he not have made an appointment by then.

We agree to meet at the location of his choice. We will invite interested people to join us!